In the middle of the alberese stone and green marble facade you can notice the portal and the lunette with high relief in glazed white and blue baked by Andrea della Robbia (1489).
On the right corner you can admire the pulpit, designed for the ostention of the Virgin's belt by Donatello and Michelozzo. Anoterh beautiful pulpit, designed by Mino da Fiesole and Rossellino can be seen inside the church.
The interior has 3 aisles supported by green marble massive columns and finished with elegant capitals; wide arcades and decorations with bands of alberese stone and green marble. At the beginning of the left aisle you can see the Chapel of the Sacra Cintola (14th c.) closed by a 15th c. bronze-gate, which was built to preserve the precious Virgin's relic.
The first chapel on the right of the transept is the Vinaccesi Chapel, decorated with frescoes by the pratese artist Alessandro Franchi.
The next Chapel of the Assunta has been frescoed by Paolo Uccello and Andrea di Giusto in 15th c. They tell the "Storie della Vergine e S. Stefano".
The walls of the Cappella Maggiore are decoreted with the famous cycles of frescoes by Filippo Lippi and some of his assistants portraying "Storie di S. Stefano e del Battista", among which you can appreciate the splendid picture of the "Salome'danzante" at Erodes's banquet". Starting from the next October 14, the chapel will have a new make-up. Infact a picture portraying a Crucifixion has been properly painted by the artist Emilio Farina to cover the restoration of the Lippi's masterpiece, which will last a few years.
Free entrance
Accessibility:
by train, by bus, by car, on foot
Weekday hours:
7.00-12.30/15.00-18.30;
Jul-ag-sept: 07,30-12,30/16,00-19,30
Holiday hours:
7.00-12.30/15.00-20.00;
Jul-ag-sept: 07,30-12,30/16,00-19,30
Ph: (+39) 0574/26234
Source:
Apt Prato
